In March of 2017 Mike Berenstain accompanied a group of Doctors from the Heart to Heart that included his wife, Dr. Laura Diaz on a trip to Peru to provide life-saving heart surgeries to Peruvian Children who otherwise would not have access to such high level health-care. Upon arrival to INCOR (the Peruvian National Hospital located in Lima) The Heart to Heart team jumped into action and was busy training the INCOR staff, participating in Lectures and presentations on various ventricular diseases, and assisting in surgeries. Meanwhile, Mike documented much of the trip in his sketchbook, capturing the team interacting with INCOR staff, prepping for surgery, and patients in recovery.
Scroll Through To see Mike’s sketches along with a few
photos from the Heart to Heart trip to Lima, Peru.
Arrival Team
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| Josie Everett, Executive Director, Heart to Heart Global Cardiac Care |
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| Arrival of Heart to Heart team to Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular (INCOR) in Lima, Peru |
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| Getting On board |
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| Orientation meeting, team interpereter and recent Peruvian medical graduate, Hernan Carcamo, on right |
Teaching & Lecturing
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| A large part of Heart to Heart's mission is teaching. Dr. Diaz lecturing with interpereter |
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| Daniel, interpreter and recent medical graduate |
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| Dr. Diaz lecturing on pediatric cardiac anesthesiology |
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| Hernan, medical interpereter |
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| Presentation on Types of Ventricular Septal defects (VSDs), the educational and surgical focus of this Heart to Heart mission in INCOR |
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| Dr. Diaz Lecturing through an interpereter |
Cath Lab
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| Cardiac cath lab view from control room |
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| Inside cath lab |
Operating Room
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| Medical team in the operating room, including Dr. Diaz (left) preparing for VSD surgery |
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| Perfusion team preparing for surgery |
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| Introduction of anesthesia preoperatively in the OR |
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| Placement of transesophageal probe preoperatively |
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| Cardiologist viewing echocardiography images in the OR |
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| Surgeon observing patient prep before operation |
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| Dr. Kirk Kanter, pediatric cardiac surgeon |
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| Interpereter observing placement of cardiopulmonary bypass cannulas before surgeon opens heart |
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| INCOR pediatric cardiac surgeon |
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| Cardiopulmonary bypass machine pumps blood and breathes for patient during surgery |
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| Interspersed with periods of intensive activity are periods of waiting. |
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| Interoperative scene |
Prenatal Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
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| Daily teaching and work rounds allow discussion of each patient's progress |
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| Nurses with picture of Madonna & Child |
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| Patient in PICU isolette, individual heated bed for babies |
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| Patient in PICU |
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| Physician members of Heart to Heart team assessing patients in PICU |
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| PICU entrance |
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| PICU Patient |
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| PICU Patient |
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| PICU Patient |
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| PICU Team awaiting arrival of patient from OR |
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| Post-op VSD patient -looking great! |
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| Daily rounds in PICU provide invaluable teaching opportunities |
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| Patient Sleeping in PICU |
Hospital Environs
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| Visiting patient rooms. These young girls with Down Syndrome wanted to try my markers. |
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| This is their creative result. |
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| Heart to Heart distributes teddy bears to patients |
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| Hospital visitor in cafeteria |
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| Hospital visitors in the cafeteria - patients from all over Peru are served by this cardiac center |
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| INCOR balcony waiting area |
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| INCOR main floor waiting area |
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| Lunch at hospital cafeteria |
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| Members of the Heart to Heart team interviewed the families of patients |
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| Colorful shrine in INCOR waiting area |
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| Patient visiting
rooms. Forty percent of children with Down Syndrome also have cardiac defects |
City Environs
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| Children in park, San Isidro district of Lima, the nation's capital |
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| Embassy Row, Miraflores district of Lima |
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| Gate M Avenida Arquipa, Arequipa district of Lima |
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| Huaca Huallamavea Pyramid Pre-Incan temple, San Isidro District of Lima |
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| Park in Lima with ancient olive grove, San Isidro District |
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| Parroquia Nuestra SeNora del Pilar, San Isidro District of Lima |
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| Lima, scene from near Heart to Heart team's hotel |
